MP under protection gets a quick divorce

MP under protection gets a quick divorce

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

Salman (C), Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy for the eastern province of Ağrı had applied for a restraining order against her ex-husband. DAILY NEWS photo/Selahattin SÖNMEZ

A local court in Ankara granted a quick divorce to Fatma Salman Kotan, a Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy for the eastern province of Ağrı, on Dec. 5 despite the original date of her hearing being a later day.

Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Şahin implied Dec. 6 that Salman, who was taken under protection from her now ex-husband earlier in the week, has been a victim of domestic violence.“When it is determined for sure by experts that there is violence present then protection is provided through a court decision,” Şahin told reporters when asked whether protection had been provided in the absence of domestic violence.

Restraining order

Salman had applied for a restraining order against her ex-husband amid their continuing divorce case. The court granted Salman’s request and banned husband İdris Kotan from approaching or connecting with his wife for the next six months at the risk of being dealt penitentiary detention.

A divorce was quickly granted Dec. 5 by a court in Ankara. Court reports show it was an amicable divorce with neither party citing any other reason for divorce than underlining irreconcilable differences.

“Protection is provided through a court’s ruling. In urgent situations, our law-enforcement officers immediately take protection precaution. When we heard of the situation, we talked with our governor and took the necessary precautions with our police chief,” Şahin said in response to questions on whether protection for Salman was provided following violence against her. “Whether it is a deputy or not, we are acting with the same sensitivity in each case that is passed to us,” Şahin said. “We haven’t done anything special for our deputy,” she said.

The minister said she spoke with Salman on the phone and also visited her, underlining that Salman is a spirited woman.

At Parliament Kotan attended on Dec. 6 General Assembly session at the Parliament, having preferred to get seated at back row along with two female colleagues.

Many deputies approached Kotan and chatted with her, while Deputy Parliament Speaker Sadık Yakut warned photo journalists who tried to take photos of her not to do so.